CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Talent made Macy Keen a high school star, but hard work is what
she needs to make a successful transition to college basketball.

A two-time state
champion at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Keen was rated as
high as the 37th-best player in the country as a senior. She was recruited by
Florida State, South Florida and Tulsa before deciding to stay close to home
and play for the Hurricanes, but her brief time at Miami has not gone the way
most top recruits would expect.

Keen has played in just
five of Miami's first nine games this season, averaging only 7.2 minutes per game.

"It's been tough on me,"
Keen said. "But I've just got to keep my head up and keep fighting to reach my
goal."

That goal is to be a
contributor, and eventually a star, for the Hurricanes. But Keen has a lot of
work to do before she can fulfill her goal.

"I think it's a matter
of getting to know so many plays," Keen said. "In high school, you get like six
plays and here we have like 100 plays."

Assistant coach Octavia
Blue can see the frustration in Keen at times, but she knows the 6-foot-6
center will fight through the tough transition and be better for it.

"I think every freshman
is having that tough transition from high school to college," Blue said. "It's
just a matter of Macy working on her skills, getting stronger and being able to
process a lot. Sometimes it's hard for a student-athlete to come in and
remember so many plays and defensive schemes. "

Keen acknowledges that
she is behind when it comes to learning Miami's large playbook. But she is
putting in extra time with Blue to make sure she is ready when head coach Katie
Meier calls her name.

"I do a lot of film
study with her and stuff on the court," Blue said. "When she's not in, I have
her stand next to me and talk her through different schemes. It's a learning
process, but she's handling it."

Beyond working with a
Miami legend like Blue, Keen is very close to team captain Shawnice "Pepper"
Wilson.

"Pepper helps me out a
lot," Keen said. "She helps me learn the plays and in practice. I look up to
her for everything."

The two forged a strong
bond when Keen committed to the Hurricanes and now they consider themselves
sisters.

"I didn't know her prior
to her committing here, but once she got here, she and I became close," Wilson
said. "She calls me her 'big sister.' We just developed a really good
relationship off the court. I look at her like a sister, too."

Wilson is the perfect
role model for Keen because she was in a similar situation as a freshman at the
University of Pittsburgh. She was a highly-rated recruit who struggled to
adjust to the college game just like Keen is experiencing now.

"I told her that it's
not going to be an easy transition to come from high school into college,"
Wilson said. "I tell her to relax and not stress too much. She looks at me now
and thinks I was always a big player, but I wasn't. I let her know that when I
first came into college, my freshman and sophomore years weren't like the last
two. She is not the only person who is going through this and I tell her that
it will get better. I like to show her that we've all gone through it, but it
gets better with time."

Blue, who was a two-time
All-American and Miami's first WNBA draft pick, believes Wilson is the perfect
player for Keen to follow.

"Pepper's work ethic is
right where it needs to be," Blue said. "You take her in an individual workout
and she is excellent. She has really good fundamental skills in terms of
footwork and things like that. When I run post drills, I'll have Macy come in
with Pepper so Macy can follow her lead. It's one thing for me to say
something, but it's easier sometimes when you can see it run properly, you can
understand it easier."

Beyond learning what to
do on the court, Blue believes Wilson can be beneficial to Keen's development
off the court, as well.

"I talk to Pepper quite
a bit about being a mentor to Macy," Blue said. "I'm a coach and you don't
always want to hear things from a coach. With Pepper being mature and a senior,
I think she is a great mentor for her."

Keen is always around
Wilson. Like any big sister, Wilson is aware that Keen looks up to her and she
is always careful to set a good example for the freshman.

"Macy hangs on to almost
every word I say," Wilson said. "I make sure that I am particular about what I
tell her and make sure that I give her the right information to take in.
Gradually, she is understanding it. She's a student of the game that wants to
learn. She takes any type of coaching, whether it's from one of the coaches or
from the players. She is very motivated and works hard. She gives us a lot of
energy on and off the court."

Keen hopes to follow in
Wilson's footsteps and become the Canes' starting center next season. As much
as she is excited for the opportunity, she admits that she will miss one of her
closest friends after Wilson graduates.

"I like playing with
Pepper because I'm going to run into taller girls as my career goes on," Keen
said. "Playing with Pepper in practice is making me better. I'm really looking
forward to playing next year but I'm going to miss her."

Wilson is confident that
Keen has the potential to be a great player. She just needs to continue to work
on improving her game.

"I tell Macy all the
time that she can have a great career here," Wilson said. "She can be way more
successful than I have the past couple of years just because of her athletic
ability and her quickness for her size. I can see her being very successful as
long as she continues to work hard and put in the extra work with our coaches
like she is doing now. She's just got to stay committed."

Commitment to excellence
is something Keen is adamant about. She is putting in extra work outside of
practice with Blue and Wilson to make sure she continues to develop as a
player.

"I feel like I just need
to keep working," Keen said. "I'm getting some minutes now and I've been
working hard. I've just got to get better."

Blue has seen Keen
progress in their individual workouts. She hopes that will translate to the
practice court and eventually to games.

"It's just a matter of
confidence," Blue said. "I've seen Macy do things in the individual workouts
that she doesn't bring every day in practice. I tell her all the time that she
will get her confidence from coming in and doing extra work because if you know
what you're doing behind the scenes then you'll feel comfortable on the floor
knowing that you put the work in. I see glimpses all the time of what she can
be. I know her schedule is full, but I tell her to get in the gym whenever she
can because it is only going to help her."

While most recognize
that Keen is going through a trying time in her basketball career, Blue
believes Keen's personal struggles have not affected her willingness to help
the team. In fact, Blue feels Keen's positive attitude during a difficult time
is what will ultimately help her succeed and become a great player.

"Macy's intensity and
energy are special," Blue said. "One thing about that kid is she's a great
teammate. She cheers everyone on. She has a motor. She has the tools. She can
run and she plays with a lot of energy. She has a chance to be a player for
us."